2.25.2013

giveaway #105

I'm truly ecstatic and honored to be hosting a Botanical Knits giveaway today! By now you just have to know that I'm an Alana Dakos of NeverNotKnitting fanatic/devotee/enthusiast, possibly could be called a NNK maniac! Alana's newest collection is beyond breathtaking. Words can't describe what the twelve Botanical Knits patterns do to my little knitting heart. I stalk the patterns on Ravelry regularly, along with so many others, I'm sure!

I've been lucky enough to knit two of the pieces in the collection already: I test/sample knit the Pressed Leaves beret last year & when Alana started posting the pictures of the collection on Rav, I begged for an advance copy of the Autumn's End sweater to knit for Jasmine and to feature on the blog during the giveaway! I'm thrilled with how the Autumn's End turned out...

This pullover is just perfect! I intentionally knit this sweater smaller than the smallest size with some mods (all listed in my pattern notes) on purpose. I was trying to perfect the changes that I wanted to make for my larger size, and I'm really happy I did. Jasmine loves her sweater and has worn it several times already. The pattern is beautifully written, easy to work from, and kept my attention the entire time. I knit this thing in 5 days flat - granted it was a really small version of the sweater.

I ended up choosing to use some Silky Wool from my stash for this project (which I think worked very well for this earthy leaf design), but I'm really itching to knit this sweater for myself out of the original yarn Alana chose for the book, Berroco's Ultra Alpaca Light. The UAL is such a gorgeous yarn and has such a beautiful palette of colors to chose from. Now, if only I could pick just one!

I don't need to tell you that I want to knit all of the projects in this book. So, I'm just going to post a little collage of the projects in the order I plan to conquer this endeavor (starting from bottom left corner and following to the right and up the side):

Alana says, "Knitters can order the printed copy for $22 + shipping. As a special thank you for preordering the printed copy, they will get the e-book for free immediately so that they can start on their projects. The printed book will ship mid-May. They will also receive an exclusive extra botanically inspired garment pattern with the copy of their printed book as a thank you from me for preordering. OR They can just order the e-book by itself for $18. This is a great option for those knitters who live internationally and do not want to pay the high cost of shipping. After the pre-order period ends in May.. the book will be available EITHER in print for $22 or e-book for $18. There will be no digital and print bundle offered."

So, you better jump on the band wagon! Now onto the good stuff... I have so many prizes for you this time! Alana is offering THREE PDF copies for three very lucky winners! Yup, that's the entire e-book for THREE lovely followers who comment below. Along with that, I have an array of yarn prizes:

That bucket is stuffed full of yarn from some of our wonderful sponsors for the three e-book winners! Here's what's in there:

TWELVE skeins of Berroco Ultra Alpaca in the yummy Candied Yam Mix color. That's enough to knit either the largest size of Autumn's End, or you could knit a smaller size and use the remaining skeins for some Spring Foliage fingerless mitts!

2. Leave a comment on this blog post by the end of Sunday, 3/10/13. Which pattern is your favorite in the Botanical Knits collection? Alright, I'm kidding, you can list your top three, since there's no way you could pick just one!

I'll randomly pick the winners in 2 weeks and post the results along with the new giveaway, so be sure to check back. Good luck everyone.

You were not lying about not being able to choose just one! Even three is really pushing it. I would have never believed that something as simple and traditional as a leaf pattern could still be used in so many fresh and inventive ways! I rarely see books that have this many patterns that I would knit in a heartbeat.

Nevertheless, my top three are Ivy Trellis socks, Twigs and Willows and Wrapped in Leaves.

Entangled vines cardigan, Oak Trail hat and Wrapped in Leaves shawl... But you're right - I do love them ALL. I bought the e-book a day or so after it was released so I already have all the patterns but would just LOVE to get my hands on some of that yarn to knit up one of the patterns with!

It is always amazing to me how seeing a sweater in a different color or on a different model completely changes my view of it. I had thought Autumn's End was nice, but seeing it in the gorgeous gray you picked for Jasmine - oh! Love at first sight! Must knit!

I absolutely love these patterns and the yarn is gorgeous! Would be thrilled to win this giveaway! My 3 favorites are the pressed leaves hat, Diana shawl and Magnolie mittens. Oh, I also would love to knit the paintbox socks. Socks are one of my favorite things to knit. Nothing like putting on a pair of handknit socks!

Hi. I saw a post about this book a few weeks ago and was just amazed at the beauty of the designs. My favorite right now is Wrapped in Leaves. I am on a shawl kick:). I may need to try the hat as well. pamk. - Rav id

What an amazing giveaway! Thank you so much, thank you Alana and thank you yarn sponsors! I'm in a garment knitting mood, so my favourite designs are obsiously the cardigans and sweaters: Autumns ends, Buds and blooms, Entangled vines and twigs and willows.

Not sure if I can wait for the giveaway... I may order a copy for my mom just in case I don't win. My first attraction goes to Twigs and Willow, the ivy trellis mittens and the oak trail hat... just keep me head to toe in botanical bliss!

My favorite top three: Autumns End, because it looks so wonderfully cozy. Ivy Trellis socks, because I am a devout sock knitter and they look so textural and lovely. Spring Foliage, because my hands are always cold in the winter, and the little leaves will remind me that spring will eventually come.

Wow, what an amazing giveaway! I love this collection - you're absolutely right when you say it's impossible to pick just one favourite design. My top three are the Oak Trail hat, Wrapped in Leaves and Autumn's End. I adore your version of Autumn's End - your DD and your knitting are both beautiful! Thanks for the great giveaway :)

I was so excited when I saw the patterns for the book popping up on rav! Can i just say i want to knit ALL of the sweaters? All. Of. Them. But if I could only knit one, it would have to be the Twigs and Willows cardigan. Alana's designs are amazing, so thank you for this wonderful chance to win!

Such a sweet give-away and such a lovely collection of patterns. Autumn's end is my first-pick pattern, closely followed by Ivy Trellis socks and the Oak Trail hat. Oh, if only life offered more time for knitting!

I've already started the Entangled Vines. Twice actually.... the first yarn I was using had too much cotton in it & was hurting my hands. The yarn I changed to was a lovely Miss Babs that seems to be working out really well! I didn't have that pullover on my list, simply because I prefer cardigans, but I do have some lovely Silky Wool in the stash, so may add that to my list too!

I was actually looking at these awhile back, and knew I'd have to look into knitting the Ivy Trellis Mitts, the Ivy Trellis Socks, and the Spring Foliage mitts for my mom and MiL... Then again, these don't look overwhelmingly "women only", so I figure I could actually wear them myself! ;-) Beautiful designs!

Thank you for alerting me to this book and to Alana's patterns. They are divine. And your giveaway is stupendous. It leaves me utterly breathless! I could easily imagine making every project in the book, but my favorite patterns are Autumn's End, the Buds and Blooms cardigan, and the Spring Foliage mitts.

I love Alana's designs, it's very hard to choose a favourite (or three!), but I think I will choose Twigs and Willows, Ivy Trellis socks and Pressed Leaves hat. What wonderful, earthy knits they all are!

What a wonderful giveaway! Twigs and Willows is definitely my favorite, but I also love entangled vines, and forest floor....and, well, pretty much everything in this collection. I so enjoy all of Alana's patterns though.

Omg what a fantabulous giveaway!!! And oh my three favorites are wrapped in leaves, pressed leaves, autumn leave, oh and forest floor, and twin leaf loop... ok who am I kidding I'm like you I want to knit them all!!!! Such gorgeous designs, all simply stunning

Autumn's End and Twigs and Willows are my favorites!OMG and that basket of yarn-WOW! I would be tickled to win any of those fabulous gifts. And now would be the perfect time to start knitting Alana's patterns for fall...and even a chilly spring day!

The collection is exceptionally good, all the patterns seem to be there with a good reason. My personal favourites are Twigs and Willows, Autumn's End and Entangled Vines. It looks like I'm going to knit through the sweaters... - kartie on Ravelry -

I have been Ravelry stalking all of these patterns and faved most of them right away, but my absolute favorites are Autumn's End, the Ivy Trellis socks, and Twin Leaf. Thanks for the great prize packages to you and the wonderful sponsors!

Oh, wow! These patterns are gorgeous! And what an amazing giveaway! I think the entangled vines cardi is my favorite, although I also love Autumn's End. I love that it has that stripe of plan stockinette down the side to keep the pattern from being just too much!

The first SWEATER pattern I really wanted to knit was Budds and Blooms but after seeing your Autumn Vines, I'm thinking that may be the first. Now the first ACCESSORY I think I'll be knitting is Oak Trail.

Her patterns are definitely something to enjoy knitting. My favorite is the brown, taupe cardi which I do not know the name of. Her patterns have such a polished look to them. THnak you for this giveaway.

Autumn's End, Entangled Vines, & The Twin Leaf Loop jump out at me! I seriously love every pattern, though. My next sweater is going to be Entangled Vines. Thanks for the amazing giveaway! Stephanie (indigodogmt on Rav)

I've already bought the book/e-book bundle and have begun plotting! The Ivy Trellis Mittens and Oak Trail will likely be first up on my needles from the book. I need to decide/save/splurge on something delicious for the Twigs and Willows. That was hard!

I've always loved Ultra Alpaca yarn and now I'm so happy to see a pattern for the light yarn ! I love these patterns and especially of course Autumn End ! and the hat Forrest Floor and Ivy Trellis socks ! They are all beautiful patterns !